The organizers of the Vuelta have unveiled the route for the next edition, which will be marked in particular by the ascent of Tourmalet de l’Angliru.
We knew that the 2023 edition of the Vuelta would start from Barcelona on August 26, we now know the course of the three weeks of competition, which will end in Madrid on September 17. The route was unveiled on Tuesday and the riders now know that they will have 3153 kilometers to cover, notably on the occasion of thirteen high and medium mountain stages, a team time trial and a time trial. individual. As tradition dictates, the Vuelta will begin with a team time trial (14.6km), in the streets of Barcelona passing in front of the emblematic monuments of the city. From the first Sunday, the peloton will climb a 3rd grade climb and a 2nd grade climb, before returning to Barcelona via the Montjuic climb, which could deter sprinters. Serious things will start on Monday with a first arrival at the top, on the side of Andorra, then the two following stages should rather be reserved for sprinters or adventurers. The sixth stage will also end at the summit, at the Javalambre Astronomical Observatory, a climb classified in the first category. An almost flat stage will follow with a finish by the sea, not far from Valence.
See you at the Tourmalet on September 8
The second weekend should be spectacular, with four hills to climb on Saturday (including a first category shortly before the finish) and two on Sunday where the wind could cause damage from Cartagena, the southernmost point of this Vuelta 2023. After a day of rest and a long trip to the center of the country, the riders will resume with a 25km individual time trial around Valladolid which should benefit the specialists. The next day, the peloton will arrive at the top of La Laguna Vinuesa (1st category), then take the direction of Zaragoza for the 12th stage, for a finish that should smile on the sprinters. On Friday September 8, French spectators will be able to come and applaud the riders of the Vuelta, since the finish will be judged at the Tourmalet (hors category), after a short stage of 134.7 km made up only of climbs and descents. The next day, two new out-of-category passes will be on the menu, departing from Sauveterre-de-Béarn in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, towards Larra-Belagua. Finally, the second week will end with a mid-mountain stage in the Basque Country.
A ten-hill stage!
After the second day of rest, the peloton will start the last week with a stage with only one climb (2nd category), in the last kilometers. It is the next day that the last contenders for the final victory will be able to try to turn everything upside down in the general classification with the climb to the terrible Angliru, one of the most difficult passes in the world. Four other climbs will be on the menu for the 18th stage, in the north-west of Spain, before a very flat stage on the return to Valladolid. On the eve of the finish, the legs will no doubt be very heavy when tackling this 208km stage, with ten third category climbs and 4000m of vertical drop in total. Finally, the survivors of this Vuelta 2023 will finish with a 100km stage towards Madrid. We will then know the successor of Remco Evenepoel!
